It's time for KI to get a new front gate!

[Shaggy]

Having just viewed some of the pictures from the new Soak City refurb and the new entrance to the waterpark - I've decided it's high time KI build a new main gate.

What many may not know is that while still under the "Paramount" moniker, there was an initiative by execs at the park to scrap the main gate and build a new one. For various reasons, that never materialized, and thus today we still have the aging original.

Now I am sure there are purists who will say "NO! DON'T! It's original to the park... we'd lose the International Restaraunt space" etc etc. However I have to say, that front gate is an eyesore in my book. It's terribly outdated and since the upstairs serves little to no purpose, a new fresher look is long overdue.

Now the Soak City entrance is VERY Cedar Fair. If you look at the entrance gates they've refurbed for the Cedar Fair Parks over the years - Cedar Point, Dorney and now the new KI Soak City entrance - they all have the same "look." Quite honestly, I'd love to see something a bit more extravagant and condusive to KI in place of the boring 1970's brown box-o-shingles currently there.

So I am curious - do others agree with my sentiments? What would you like to see in a new main entrance?

Shaggy

[LongLiveTheSmurfRide]

I agree that it's pretty dated looking, but if they change it, I'll have to redo the gate in my Minecraft Kings Island build.

But I'm sure I could deal.

[Browntggrr]

meh, it does not bother me either way.

The gate is dated. IR is dated, and cannot be used for public events. Something new, fresh, & open would be nice.

Although, walking onto the bright midway to see IS & the fountain from the present gate is always breathtaking.

[standbyme]

This is a very un-Shaggy like post...not only am I not used to you "complaining", I REALLY am shocked that you started your own topic to do it!

As for my thoughts...I am fine with the entrance as it is, I do like having something somewhat original left. (I still like the feel of walking out from the shade and into the bright morning sun when I arrive.)

I do think it is way overdue to get a public elevator for the (former) International Restaurant though.

[gad198]

I was thinking the same thing when I came to the park this past Tuesday. Getting rid of the metal detectors has made a big difference in restoring some quality to that part of the park and this would be a great next step.

If they would ever decide to scrap the International Restaurant space then I would absolutely be in favor of simply tearing down that whole structure. I would rebuild it so that you can upgrade restroom facilities, Guest Relations, and bring the height of the building down more so that you can open up the front gate space to further highlight the entrance to the park.

[Thrill_Biscuit]

Shaggy, I whole-heartedly, knee-slapping-rising-to-my-feet-whistling and applaudingly agree with your conclusion. Yes, yes, yes!!!

I'm sure Cedar Fair would handle the visual aspects with great care. But as I have said many, many times before:

If they're going to blast music over the loudspeakers at the front gate (and along International Street for that matter), they really, really, really, really, really need to play something that evokes the same kind of emotions that the movie themes did during the Paramount era; and that the Pops Orchestra, International Symphony music in the prior years did for the entrance --like you're entering a really special kind of place! The stuff they play now over the front gate and fountains sounds just plain wrong.

[westcoaster]

I am for progress but it would be nice maybe to cover the area where you enter with some Plasma screens coving the dated shingle type roof, updates to International for sure and reopen it as ISTREET SPORTS CAFE or something .

To tear down the entrance I don't think Cedar Fair would do good, its nice walking up to the gates and getting a suprise when you first walk onto I street.

Cookie cutter design would not be good for KI.

[rotag]

the front gates would be ok in my book if they still had the old ticket sales booths in front of them. i like the feel of high quality theme & detail, but we all know Cedar Fair for being a "one trick pony" by making everything generic & uniformed to all the parks; as compared to in the past where all the parks had there uniqueness & made a visit to that park something truly extraordinary as you got something different that drew you to go visit those places in the first place.

[Gordon Bombay]

Having just viewed some of the pictures from the new Soak City refurb and the new entrance to the waterpark - I've decided it's high time KI build a new main gate.

What many may not know is that while still under the "Paramount" moniker, there was an initiative by execs at the park to scrap the main gate and build a new one. For various reasons, that never materialized, and thus today we still have the aging original.

Now I am sure there are purists who will say "NO! DON'T! It's original to the park... we'd lose the International Restaraunt space" etc etc. However I have to say, that front gate is an eyesore in my book. It's terribly outdated and since the upstairs serves little to no purpose, a new fresher look is long overdue.

Now the Soak City entrance is VERY Cedar Fair. If you look at the entrance gates they've refurbed for the Cedar Fair Parks over the years - Cedar Point, Dorney and now the new KI Soak City entrance - they all have the same "look." Quite honestly, I'd love to see something a bit more extravagant and condusive to KI in place of the boring 1970's brown box-o-shingles currently there.

So I am curious - do others agree with my sentiments? What would you like to see in a new main entrance?

Shaggy

Shaggy, maybe it was you who said it years ago, but wasn't there a plan once to turn the IR into a replica of the Titanic's main dining room? Obviously a plan during the Paramount years.

As for the gate, Soak City's does look very nice. However, I think they could just do a nice update and refurb to the current main gate. It doesn't look that bad.

For the IR this year, apparently they're doing some special events up there like breakfast with the characters still and pizza party's during the fireworks.

[BB1]

Now i am sentient in species but, I personally do not believe that they would. Yes they refurb the Soak City, but what would they do? It would cost so much to destroy it, then to build something, its just throwing money down the drain. Simply, if it makes money, they will put it in, if its just for show and will not bring in money then they wont. Look at the IRB with characters, it makes money, if they took it down, it would be a loss of money. Now I do understand that the new CEO is in the xfiles of Disney, making him be into the full imersion idea. So personally it is undecive, from a fan standpoint, im inbetween, and even in the business standpoint, im inbetween, but its highly unlikely for the refurb to happen, unless if this big 2013 deal is really for the front enterance. Then there will be just crowds standing at the enterance saying, "Why go in? When we could just look at this new enterance!". BB1 who uses many literary devices.

[Browntggrr]

Enthusiasts may not like cookie-cutter stuff, but it works for big companies.

The same Big Mac you get around the corner is the same Big Mac you get in Tokyo.

Or in our terminology- the same Eiffel Tower you see in Mason is the same Eiffel Tower you see in Doswell.

[Gordon Bombay]

Actually, it's not. The Doswell one is taller.

[Browntggrr]

^ Is it really?

[The Interpreter]

Now.

It was not always thus.

[Browntggrr]

Is KI's SINKING???

[The Interpreter]

No, but it did sort of get a haircut, years ago. KD's did not.

[IndyGuy4KI]

I do agree now that SC has a nice cool entrance, it does make the main entrance look a little dated.

I am not sure why the perception is that they would have to tear down the existing building to change the look of the entrance. Now, I do think a new coat of paint (brighter color) and something cool built over the existing shingles would be nice. Honestly though, I only see that for a minute or so as I walk into the park. I am usually looking to see if DB, WS, DT, and Invertigo are testing and not really looking at the building. I am sure the GP is talking about their day and not really going, "Honey, they really need to redo this main entrance."

If and when they do give it some attention, I can see it being redone with one or two of those LED billboards.

[CedarPointer]

I could see a facade being added over the shingles, but not a whole new building. IR is still used by the park for various things, GR, restrooms, and 2 merchandise locations are located in it... seems like too much money to spend on something unnecessary.

[westcoaster]

But a majority of people do believe an update at least would work.

Maybe in that a elevator to IR.

How can they have public breakfast if not handicap accesible.

And I thought the ADA requirments were tightening this coming year.

What will the waterpark do?

Will they have to add lifts to ? As so many public pools are doing/

[The Interpreter]

Many changes have already occurred.

Rome was not built in a day.

[XGatorHead 8904]

Ah yes, the Paramount front gate plans. I can't go into much detail, but they were very nice plans. I know I was pretty excited for them back then, but many factors played into them not coming to be.

The current gate doesn't bother me in the least. With the GA booths being removed a few years back, and now the metal detectors, that space has really opened up. When Paramount added the 3 billboards to the front of the IR, that brought some much needed color to the drab brown tiles. And as Browntggrr commented, I like the "awe" factor of not being able to see the fountains until you walk through the gate.

As far as IR and elevators, it does have one. Yes, you have to escorted into a "behind the scenes" area to access it, but it's there and available for use to those who need it. How that measures up to the more restrictive ADA regulations though, I don't know.

[CoastersNSich]

I say give the structure a neo-modern make-over, and renovate the International Restaurant space. The front gate building may look dated but it still has life to it. Replacing it with a traditional-looking front gate like you'd see at other CF parks is overkill, and a waste of opportunity, space, and money.

[The Interpreter]

And you still have a 1972 structure with functional obsolescence, from insulation to configuration to HVAC.

It may well cost less over time to replace it. How many original McDonald's do you see? Some of that company's buildings are replaced when they are less than a decade old!

[Thrill_Biscuit]

Why just stop at two billboards? Go New York, baby! Do like they do in Times Square, where whole sides of buildings are covered in LED panels! Now, that would look cool on the front gate!

[The Interpreter]

Which reminds me, at one time, Paramount Parks intended to install a Jumbotron. For whatever reason, it never happened.

[Jr for Birdy]

I personally would rather see them spend money on anything but the front gate. Atleast you dont feel like your walking into a state prison this year!

[lopan]

the front gates would be ok in my book if they still had the old ticket sales booths in front of them. i like the feel of high quality theme & detail, but we all know Cedar Fair for being a "one trick pony" by making everything generic & uniformed to all the parks; as compared to in the past where all the parks had there uniqueness & made a visit to that park something truly extraordinary as you got something different that drew you to go visit those places in the first place.

I had forgotten about when they were in the front. Does anyone have any pics of the front gate from when the ticket booths were in front of them?

[corn4ahead]

What was the IR used for anyway back in the day and when did it close?

[AintNutinElse2Do]

Forgive me as I did this pretty quickly but here's an idea as to what I'd like to see KI's entry gate look like. Definitely a work in progress.

http://

[RollerCoasterRoyalty]

Nice Sketch. A Roman Coloseum look would be kool but I am not sure if its the right theming for the area. Kings Island seems to me more of a German type of a themed park (Not that there is any themeing left)